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What would prevent a guy like Partridge or Ash changing their mind in a week and coming back to UW if the situation presented itself? No matter who we hire, some team is going to be losing some assistants to us at the end of the year. There doesn't seem to be a code of ethics on hiring assistants. Seems like I recall a coach coming to UW a few years ago and then changing his mind. I imagine it happens on occasion.

10 Days--not by by calendar. Word came down 12/3. Today is day 13. Tomorrow 2 weeks with zip except lost all the best assistant coaches and several top recruits with more out the door soon. Great job by our very highly paid AD. Too cheap to pay good assistants so BB gets POd and leaves. Now the place is a ghost town. This could setback badger football years.

Waay too much speculation on your part. Even if UW matched salary, why would a UW assistant blindly stay here not knowing who they're going to work with? They'll go with the known factor - the HC they've worked with.

We keep rehashing Bielema's "assistants pay" comments. What evidence was there during his tenure that guys left due to pay? Chryst left for a promotion. Rudolph left for a promotion and a chance to head back to PA. Other guys?? It sounds like the current batch of assistants would have loved to stay here if they could have. Partridge inferred that last night. So I don't buy that UW has lost guys due to pay issues...at least in the past.

Now in 2012, sounds like things have changed. I think Doeren nearly doubled the pay of Canada to go to NC State. And NCST is a mediocre ACC program. Not the SEC. So maybe the days of SEC-grade pay for lead assistants is a requirement for big-time schools moving forward.

Coleman is the only one I've heard that actually decomitted and he's a JUCO with questionable grades, not really feeling a loss there Is Singleton a decom, just saw the blurb on ever so reliable tweeter?

JUCO Coleman is the only decomm I've seen. His grades were questionable and he just verballed less than a month ago. Don't see him as a huge loss. Coleman may have decommed but not sure if that's official. Sounds like the recruiting pitch at UW is to commit to he school,, not the coach so if they leave, they aren't committed to UW.

The number one job for Alvarez was not to coach this team in the Rose Bowl on January 1. The number one job was to get the best head coach in place as soon as possible. The timing of Bielema's decision and the apparent unpreparedness of Alvarez to find the right replacement in a short period of time could be very damaging.

As for Chryst, if you think the guy is right for the job, forget about all that garbage that he's been there for just one year. You have to get your own house in order. Getting the right guy in place in madison is far more important than ruffling a few feathers in Pittsburgh. Maybe Richter should have been hired to oversee this thing while Alvarez coached the team.

Remember, Alvarez didn't really have to do a "search" when he announced his retirement from coaching seven years ago. Bielema was already on his staff. Right now, he's trying to be the head coach, the athletic director and find the next head coach of, by far, the most important sport on campus. He has stated that his "short list" is disappearing before his eyes. From an outside perspective, this isn't going very well right now. To make a mistake with this decision would be awful.

People often bring up the trite phrase "sense of urgency" when it comes to a football team that is behind in the fourth quarter. Well, that is what this situation called for the day that Alvarez got the word from Bielema. The search had to be intense and fast. Again, from an outside perspective, that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Stress "Outside Perspective". How can anybody pass judgement on the process when they absolutely nothing about it? If long ter, success is the goal why wouldn't taking your time and getting the best person possible be a virtue. A quick hire to keep a couple of guys from a single recruiting class seems pretty short sighted.

Bucky26...I did not say that a "...quick hire to keep a couple guys from a single recruiting class..." If you notice, I didn't even mention recruiting, however it is a factor. The whole idea of staying away from Chryst because of the one-year thing is just wrong. You have to act like this is the best job out there. Don't back down to anyone for any reason. Identify your guys and go get them. Don't put yourself at a disadvantage and lose both coaches and recruits in the process. Also, give the new head coach a chance to get in here and get rolling. This is a very important time for the future of the program.

I could be wrong, but didn't BA hiring BB as an assistant also include the "HC in waiting" tag? Alvarez had to have an idea he was looking to retire. So the hiring of Bielema back then with the notion of eventually becoming HC had to be on Barry's mind.

I could be wrong, but didn't BA hiring BB as an assistant also include the "HC in waiting" tag? Alvarez had to have an idea he was looking to retire. So the hiring of Bielema back then with the notion of eventually becoming HC had to be on Barry's mind.

kidsmoke96...My reason for the "search" comment was because Alvarez didn't really do a search the first time he hired a football coach. So, in essence, this is the very first time he has ever had to hire a head football coach with the timing of it being a real factor. Throw in the fact that he is trying to coach the team at the same time and it is a daunting task.

It is not impossible that he'll find the right guy, but when he readily admits that his "short list" was running out of names as other schools hire coaches, it makes you wonder if he is approaching this thing in the correct way.

Purdue, Colorado and Cinci are a full tier below UW. Were we gonna hire some shmo or are we looking for better? Or we're you hoping we would hire tuber ills from Texas Tech so he could institute the spread. Seriously people...Chill. Wait for the hire and then pass judgement.

Bucky26..."Some schmo..." Unless you have some data to back up the premise that a coach hired in a shorter period of time is more likely to be "some schmo," than a coach hired after an athletic director's "short list" is depleted then I can't take your comment seriously. Alvarez didn't toss together his "short list" the minute Bielema gave him the news. That list has to be ready to go at all times of the year, just in case it is needed. That list needs to be updated and refined constantly. Then once you are presented with a situation where you need to hire a coach, there is no dragging your feet -- you can start with the process immediately and hire quickly.

It is not an issue of needing to "chill." I am simply stating that the "right guy" should be on his list and he probably should have been hired by now. The longer the wait, the more potential problems arise.

Purdue, Colorado and Cinci are a full tier below UW. Were we gonna hire some shmo or are we looking for better? Or we're you hoping we would hire tuber ills from Texas Tech so he could institute the spread. Seriously people...Chill. Wait for the hire and then pass judgement.

Which part of, “ I couldn’t hire somebody if I wanted to until the latter part of this coming week.”, is so difficult for some of you to understand? I'm kind of glad he and the administration are following the law. Does the term "lack of institutional control" ring a bell? The fact that he hasn't broken the law doesn't mean he hasn't done his due diligence.

Homer...So you think he has already made the hire? If so, your statement makes sense. But it looks to me like he hasn't made that hire, yet, even unofficially. Also, Alvarez would never allow such a minor detail like that get in the way of making a hire. If you remember, Alvarez never backed down from the hiring of Bielema even when he was told that he could not officially have Bielema as his replacement because of laws regarding the posting of the job. All Alvarez said then that Bielema was his guy and never backed down. Now, it appears to me anyway, that Alvarez is using the same law to buy some more time in his search. We'll see in the coming days or (gulp) weeks.

Buckyfan, my point was that I believe BA hired BB as a likely heir to the HC position. So yes, I do think he has done this search thing before. Not to mention, he seems to be called on by search consultants quite often for other schools. I think I have faith in him finding the right guy.

kids...Alvarez appointed Bielema as his successor a full year before he retired. He liked what he saw and decided to make the move. Point is, Alvarez had all of the time in the world for that decision. He was not pressed at all and didn't have to do it in a hurry or at a critical time of the year. It was not a "search" at all.

That whole "consultant" comment from Alvarez was more ego than anything else. Okay, consultants call him. Fine, consultants call all kinds of coaches. Where do you think they get their information? Fact is, Alvarez said he had a list and that list was disappearing quickly. Now, it becomes a search and there is little time for that now.

BF24....it was widely reported that the UW brass/regents weren't happy with the way BA did the BB hiring process and this time they wanted it done by the book. I assume that is what they are doing this go round.

12thman...I am certainly aware of the flack Alvarez had to negotiate when he prematurely "hired" Bielema. Already made reference to that. As for doing it by the book, I don't think anyone would get in Alvarez' way if he told them that "his guy" wanted to commit to coaching in Madison, but can't simply wait for another ten days and lie to the people he is currently working for. When you find your guy, you hire him. You don't have this imaginary quiet period while everyone waits for some artificial deadline to pass and risk losing "your guy" because of it.

Bucky Fan 24Some schmo referred to the point that coaches for lower teir schools don't overlap with upper tier schools. Not a comment on timing but thanks for missing the points. You make all these points about Barry's process and short list when all you know is what little conjecture is out in the media. You just don't have the information to make the statement that things are going poorly. In the end you may be proved right, and Barry might have needed to be more aggressive. Measure twice cut once (that's an analogy in case some of you don't get it)

Bucky26...I'm sorry, but what information do I need to have other than there isn't a coach in place and Alvarez has publicly stated that his "short list" has been depleted. The only reason to have a "short list" or any list at all is that you can get someone hired quickly -- especially if you are doing this at a critical time of the year. Signing day is the first week of February and this is the time of year that coaches do a lot of recruiting. The new coach will have to hire a staff when he gets in-house and that takes time, then they have to solidify the recruits they have already and fill out the rest of the class.

Yes, it matters that this is done quickly. If not, well, lets just wait until March or April to have a guy in house. Once he gets his staff filled out in May, things can move forward.

Hey, I'd love to be wrong about this. Hope I am. I just don't want this program to take a couple years to recover because it has lost a head coach and gone through two sets of assistant staffs in a matter of two years.

The number 1 thing was for BA not to let his ego be persuaded by a bunch of players who were hardly born when he coached to coach the RB.If BA would have promoted an staff coach to the interim HC with hope of being the HC, most of the assistants and recruits would not have left.That was a huge mistake.At this point it might be wise for Barry to coach the RB and then get out and retire in Naples,FL.

AZ mike...Agreed. His job is the long-term future of the program, not to fulfill some dream of coaching in the Rose Bowl one more time. The next head coach of this program is a far more important decision than one more trip down memory lane.

The inconsistency is this report makes doesn't refer to the previous report about Tucker not being interested in the job.So the two stories contradict themselves and that should be referred to in this story so it's clear to the readers.

Interesting turn of the worm here, fairly high pressure tactic to target guys unsure of whether they'll be able to provide their families a secure income for the next year. Says a lot more about the people pursuing that type of tactic then the men they're targeting. As I noted last night on this blog, we need to look at this from a strategic, rather than tactical, perspective. There's a distinct possibility/probability that the new staff the next HC brings in will be even better than what UW had/has. I'm guessing they'll retain Bart Miller as the O-line coach, maybe Faulkner as well (RB coach). My money is on Diaco being the guy. Yes, we haven't really heard anything about him being interviewed; however the network of contact BA has form his ND days begs that he's a main contender. Frankly, ND is used to having their coaching staff(s) pilfered over the years. They know how to keep things close to the vest.As before, KCCO folks-by this time next weekend, we'll be rejoicing...GO RED

BA mentioned in his Q&A tonight that it's Quiet Period for recruiting right now. So the pressure that BB and DD put on these guys was simply to have them in ARK and NC to start on a 2013 plan. Not for recruiting. Seems like that could have waited another week. But I guess the new coaches want to round out their staff.